University of Texas Professor Robert Jensen will speak on “Media Consumption Crises.” Jensen will discuss the relationship of hyper-mediated culture and mass-marketed consumption to social and ecological crises. How do contemporary news and entertainment media shape our understanding of self and society? How does contemporary consumerism affect the larger living world? How should we understand the multiple, cascading crises of our time? Jensen, who teaches in the School of Journalism, is the author of Plain Radical: Living, Loving, and Learning to Leave the Planet Gracefully. Location: Austin Community College, Pinnacle Campus, 10th Floor Conference Room, 7748 Highway 290 West, Austin Filmed and Edited by Jeff Zavala and Grace Alfar Austin Indymedia http://austin.indymedia.org

This interview features Dr. Robert Jensen with an in-depth look at current societal concerns nationally and on the global stage. University of Texas Professor Robert Jensen speaks on “Media Consumption Crises.” Jensen discusses the relationship of hyper-mediated culture and mass-marketed consumption to social and ecological crises. How do contemporary news and entertainment media shape our understanding of self and society? How does contemporary consumerism affect the larger living world? How should we understand the multiple, cascading crises of our time? Jensen, who teaches in the School of Journalism, is the author of Plain Radical: Living, Loving, and Learning to Leave the Planet Gracefully. Location: Austin Community College, Pinnacle Campus, 10th Floor Conference Room, 7748 Highway 290 West, Austin Filmed and Edited by Jeff Zavala and Grace Alfar Austin Indymedia http://austin.indymedia.org

Roy Casagranda speaks to the historic realities that have lead to the current situation in Syria and explains the larger political environment created by the world's largest players. To lean more visit: http://theaustinschool.com Video produced by Jeff Zavala Videography / Editing by Grace Alfar

Vermont's Independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders speaks along with local community leaders in a Town Hall Meeting in Austin, Texas, on March 31st at 7p.m.. The Town Hall Meeting discussion items includes: How to . . . 1) Overturn Citizens United and Get Big Money Out of Politics; 2) Deal with Obscene Wealth and Income Inequality. 3) Combat Climate Change. 4) Create Democracy NOT Oligarchy. Learn more at: http://BernieSanders.com Videography/Editing by Jeff Zavala and Grace Alfar A Austin Indymedia Production http://austin.indymedia.org

After a dreadful 2013 legislative session, tearful Supreme Court cases deciding the fate of our women's health clinics, and a statewide election that will only ensure further restrictions on women's choice, we are coming together for our 2nd annual Roe v. Wade celebration and its effects on liberating women to not only plan their families, but maintain full agency over their own bodies. Learn more at: http://riseuptx.orghttp://getequal.orghttp://safeplace.orghttps://mamasofcolorrising.wordpress.com Filmed / Edited by Jeffry Zavala, Grace Alfar & Michelle Dougherty. Music by Kiya Heartwood "Change (Is Gonna Come)" An Austin Indymedia Production. http://Austin.Indymedia.org/

'Black Lives Matter' was the message advocated Saturday (1-17-2015) by the hundreds who rallied in Austin, TX and across the country. They began at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on the East Mall of the University of Texas campus. Their mission was to march to the Capitol to protest police brutality. Walking a mile didn't take the breath away from these demonstrators, who stormed the Texas State Capitol building Saturday afternoon. They're a group that's calling for an end to police brutality and for the firings of both the Austin Chief of Police and a Houston Police officer, who shot an unarmed black man. "The first part in making an impression in making a difference, is that we have to show unity," said activist Treasje Mitchell. "We have to let them know that it's not just the young black people that this is effecting." Similar protests have happened around the country recently. They came in wake of the high-profile deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Eric Garner in New York City at the hands of police officers. Filmed / Edited by Jeffry Zavala & Grace Alfar. Music by K.R.U.E “Police Brutality” Story by Amber Downing An Austin Indymedia Production. http://Austin.Indymedia.org

Greg “Gregorio” Casar took the District 4 seat for Austin City Council with 2,851 votes, or 64.62 percent, according to unofficial results. Casar’s opponent, Laura Pressley, garnered 1,561 votes, or 35.38 percent. “My first priority is listening to and working with a diverse group of constituents in District 4," Casar said. "It’s not just about my agenda but about what the families in my district need.”

The People’s Task Force and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty organized a demonstration at the Capitol as a part of the National Day Against Police Violence. This protest was held to honor those who have died by the force of police, such as Michael Brown and Eric Garner. If you haven’t yet, please watch the video from the planning meeting and our interview with Snehal Shingavi on the 11th and 12th here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csaSV... As families decorate Christmas trees in their homes, a group of protesters gathered at the Texas State Capitol Saturday afternoon to decorate the Capitol’s tree with the names of those who have been killed by police and leave gifts that will never be opened. “The protest is a way to channel people’s frustrations and anger into a productive way of demonstrating what we think is wrong with how cops behave and that they’re held completely unaccountable,” said Snehal Shingavi, an organizer of the protest and member of the People’s Task Force and assistant professor at UT Austin. He added, “We are now approaching the number of black men lynched annually during Jim Crow, same number are being killed by police officers. This has to be a call to arms.” The People’s Task Force and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty organized the protest to participate in the National Day Against Police Violence. This event was held in honor of those who died due to police brutality, such as the nationally popular cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and the local Larry Jackson Jr. case. Protesters and supporters used the hashtags #shutitdownatx, #justice4jackson and #blacklivesmatter to share photos, videos and comments. Demographics of the activists ranged from babies to high school students, undergraduates to professors and hobbyists to professionals. Filmed / Edited by Jeffry Zavala & Grace Alfar. Music by B. Dolan “Film the Police” An Austin Indymedia Production. http://Austin.Indymedia.org

Snehal Shingavi talks about the state of racism and police brutality in America. He outlines how the government spends money on a police force that works to divide the poor from the rich and further gentrify America. This allows the rich ruling class of society to do what ever they want and get away with it.

Snehal highlights the need to properly protect and serve the population instead of just protecting the rich and their private property. Institutions need to be created to help civilians hold police accountable for the crimes they commit.

Shehal Shingavi also outlines a few organizations worth getting involved with here in Austin:

- The People’s Task Force

- The Peaceful Streets Project

- National Lawyers Guild

- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

All of which are working to watch police or implement police accountability measures.

In this video members of the People’s Task Force met up at Resistencia Bookstore to discuss, plan and create strategies for the National Day of Action against Police Violence Protest taking place on 12/13/14. If you haven’t yet, please watch and share the video from the protest on the 13th here: https://youtu.be/DRtOkHw8ep0

A discussion led by Sheikh Islam Mossaad and Professor Snehal Shingavi on Islamophobia and State Violence. The talk highlights how Israel uses Islamophobia to justify its aggression and violations of international law. Israel is not alone, however, in using this narrative of the Muslim terrorist to rationalize militarization of police, mass surveillance, and the broader war on terror. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A session. Sheikh Islam currently serves as Imam for the North Austin Muslim Community Center. He is a graduate of the University of Texas and his Islamic education came through sitting with people of knowledge and scholars from an early age until the present. He is a dynamic speaker who engages audiences and genuinely enjoys open and respectful discussion. Professor Snehal Shingavi received his Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Berkeley in 2008 after earning BAs in English and Economics from Trinity University in 1997. He won the Mellon Fellowship in Humanistic Studies, has published articles in several journals including International Socialist Review, and has appeared as a commentator on programs such as Hardball on CNN. He teaches Global Indian Literature and Literature of Islamophobia at the University of Texas. Sponsored by: - Society for Islamic Awareness - Muslim Students' Association - Palestine Solidarity Committee Produced / Edited by Grace Alfar. Videography by Grace Alfar. An Austin Indymedia Production. http://Austin.Indymedia.org